What are Capped contracts?

No more scary bills
At Tesco Mobile, we want to help make your life easier. You can cap your bill, so you’ll know how much it’s going to be each month. You won’t need to worry about overspending and getting a scary bill.

You’re in control
You decide how much you want to spend on top of your monthly tariff price, from zero to £100. Your bill won’t go higher than that.

If you’re super-cautious
If you don’t want to spend any extra, you can choose a zero bill cap. You won’t be able to do anything apart from use your monthly minutes, texts and data, so your bill will never be higher than your tariff price.

How could your phone bill surprise you?

Sometimes you need to do extra stuff like…

Sending picture messages

Calling or texting premium rate numbers

Calling 101 or 05 numbers

Making international calls

Using extra minutes, texts or data

These things can start to add up. If you cap your bill you have complete control over how much you spend on them each month.

So you can be happy in the knowledge that you’ll never get a shocker of a phone bill. Another little thing that makes a big difference.

Just remember that if you choose a zero bill cap, you won’t be able to do any of these extra things at all.

Great coverage on O2’s network and 4G as standard

Frequently Asked Questions

Why should I add a safety buffer or a zero bill cap?

A safety buffer or zero bill cap will give you control over your mobile bill. Your safety buffer will give you the freedom to use more than your monthly tariff if you want. And you’ll always have the flexibility to move your safety buffer up or down.

Or you can select a zero bill cap, which means that you won’t be able to spend anything above your monthly allowance. You won’t be able to do things like send picture messages, call premium rate numbers, call international numbers or use extra minutes, texts or data.

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How would I spend more than my tariff amount?

You’ll only be charged more than your tariff amount if you do things not included in your monthly allowance, such as sending picture messages, calling premium rate numbers, calling international numbers or using extra minutes, texts or data. These will come out of your safety buffer, or if you have a zero bill cap, you won’t be able to do them at all.
With a Capped contract, you’ll never be able to use more than the safety buffer or zero bill cap you’ve chosen.

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What’s the right safety buffer for me?

It’s really up to you. Say you never want to spend more than £15 a month. Pick a £10 tariff and give yourself a safety buffer of £5. Or, if you don’t want to spend anything above your monthly allowance at all, choose a zero bill cap. The choice is yours.

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Can I change my safety buffer or zero bill cap?

Yes, you can view, change or add a safety buffer or zero bill cap in our Tesco Mobile app or My Account. You can also call us on 4488, free from your Tesco Mobile phone

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What happens if I use up all my safety buffer?

We’ll text you when you’ve nearly used up your safety buffer. Then we’ll text you again when you’ve used it all up.

If you use up all your safety buffer, you can still use any minutes, texts or data you’ve got left in your monthly allowance. You just won’t be able to use any extra minutes, texts or data, or do anything not included in your allowance. You’ll still be able to receive calls and texts.

To use your phone as normal again, you can make a payment towards your bill or increase your safety buffer.

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What if I use data abroad?

If you’re traveling in any of our 48 Home From Home destinations, you can use the data from your allowance, just like you would at home. After that, you’ll pay standard UK rates for data.

If you pick a safety buffer of £40 or less, we’ll limit the total amount you can spend on data, calls and texts abroad to £40 in your bill month.

If you pick a safety buffer higher than £40, you’re accepting that you could spend over £40 on data abroad. But we’ll still apply the total safety buffer you’ve chosen for all minutes, texts and data, whether you’re in the UK or abroad.

Before you travel, you might want to consider turning off data roaming to avoid extra costs.

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How do I get a safety buffer?

When you’re buying your phone online, just tick the ‘Yes, cap my bill please’, then choose your safety buffer amount or a zero bill cap. You can change this any time in our Tesco Mobile app or My Account. You can also call us on 4488, free from your Tesco Mobile phone.